Hand-tool.



W. A. BERNARD.

HAND TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. I9I5.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co.,\VI\SHINGToN. D. c,

UNITED STATES rgTENT ornrcE.

WILLIAM A. BERNARD, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 THE WILLIAM SCI-IOILHORN COMPANY, OF NEW NECTICUT.

HAND-Toon.

XJ i i Specification of Letters Patent. `Patented NOV. 9, 1915.

Application led May 26, 1915. Serial No. 30,598.

T0 all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, IVTLLIAM A. BERNARD, a citizen of the United States, residing in New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Tools, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to thosey where a very powerful leverage is required. I have shown my improvements as applied to a bolt cutter, but they may be used to advantage in tools of other types.

The primary objects ofthe invention are to provide simple, efective means affording a powerful leverage; to furnish improved means for supporting and centering operating handles or lever members which are pivoted non-coincidently, and to improveV the general construction and operation of devices of the class to which the invention relates.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of a bolt cutter embodying my improvements, with the jaws open; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the bolt cutter, taken from the rear, and showing the cutting jaws in contact with each other; Fig. Sis an edge view of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

The bolt cutter shown in the drawing comprises a pair of levers 5, 6 pivoted together intermediate of their ends by means of a pivot bolt 7. In front of the pivot 7, theV levers are providedwith cutting jaws 5a, 62L respectively. The portions of the levers 5, 6 which are disposed rearwardlyV of the pivot are of greater length than the cutting jaws and form elongated shanks 5", 6b which when moved away from each other bring the cuttingjaws together. The rear extremities of the levers 5, 6 are adapted to be moved toward 'and away from each other by vmeans of operating levers 8, 9 which are preferably constructed from ysheet metal bent into U- shaped cross-section. The forward end por tions of the operating handles are .forked or bifurcated so as to straddle the respective shanks 5b, 6b to which they are pivoted by means of pivot bolts 10, 11. respectively. At

the rear of theJ pivot bolts 10, 11, the operating levers are pivoted to a supporting member or block 12 by means of pivot bolts 13, 14 respectively. This block 12 is straddled by the forked forward end portions of the operating levers, and the latter are pivotedV to the block on opposite sides respectively of the center of the block. In other words, the pivots ofthe respective operating levers on the supporting means are non-coincident, being spaced on opposite sides respectively of the lengthwise axis of the tool as a whole, as shown, the distancebetween the pivots 13, 14 and the pivots 10, 11 respectively being` quite short as compared to the length of the operating levers. It willrbe apparent that by the construction described, a very powerful compound leverage is obtained so that largeV bolts may be cut oft1 bythe jaws 5a, 6a by the expenditure of comparatively little effort. Y Y

In order to maintain the two sets of levers in av symmetrical relation in respect to the lengthwise axis of the tool, or, in other words, to prevent the supporting block 12 from taking an inclined position with respect to the lengthwise axis of the tool, suitable means are provided for maintaining the imaginary line between theY pivots 13, 14 perpendicular toa line bisecting the angle between. the working levers 5, 6 and the angle between the operating levers 8, 9. In

ythe formshown, the block 12 is held per,

pendicular to the line bisecting the angle between the members 5, 6 by Vmeans of a vcentering device disposed between the shank portions 5b, 6b. This centering device comprises a tubular member 15 attached to the block 12, and serving as a mounting for a sliding member 16, which engages both'of the levers 5, 6. The member 16 may bein the form of a small cylinder engaging inclined surfaces 5, 6c on the inneredges of the levers 5,. 6 immediately atthe rear of the pivot 7. `Said member 16 is supported on a rod 17 entering andguided in the tubular .member 15, and yieldingly cushioned by a spring 18 interposed between the bottom of the socket in the member 1 5, and the inner end of the rod 17, as shown in Fig. 4. The

. spring 18v is normally held under compres sion so as to force'the member l16 into tight engagement with the ,inclined surfaces 5?, 6c respectively. v

j In cutting a bolt or the like, the tool is first opened into the position shown in Fig. 1. Then when the jaws 5a, 6a have been engaged with the bolt shank, the levers S, 9 are pulled toward each other, and, the cutting edges are brought together on the bolt by the separation of the rear extremities of the levers 5, 6 through their connection with the forward extremities of the respective operating levers by means of the pivots 10, 11, as will be obvious. As will be noted from Fig. 1, the pivots 10, 11 are well in 'advance of the pivots 13, 1l when the tool is in the open position, but when the jaws 5a, 6a are brought to the closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the pivots 13, 14: are brought almost into transverse alinement with the pivots 11, l0, so that at this time the movement. of the cutting jaws is extremely slight as compared to that of the rear extremities of the operating levers, whereby a very powerful action is obtained. As the jaws are closed together, the member 15 carried by the block 12 is thrust forward relative to the levers 5, 6 andthe pivot 7, as will be obvious, and it carries forward the member 16 which continues to engage the inclined surfaces 5C, 6C and thereby exerts a kind of wedging act-ion on the members 5, G, tending to close the jaws. The main function of the device 15, 16, however, is to center the block 12, as previously described, and this is done by keeping the member 15 in the line bisecting the angle between the levers. The spring 18 cushions the lev r engaging device 16, and. by allowing relative movement between it and its supporting part, permits the cooperating parts 5C', 6 of the levers to be cut along straight lines without disturbing the easy, noiseless working of the tool.

ln order to limit the closing movement of the jaws, the block 12 may be provided with a suitable stop. ln the form shown, the cen tering member 15 is connected with the block by a threaded shank 15a extending through the block to the rear thereof, and a stop block 19 is threaded on the rearwardly extending portion of the shank 15a. The stop block 19 is adapted to engage the inner edges of the operating handles, as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby arrest them in the desired position. The stop may be fixed in any of a number of different positions along the shank or stem 15a by means of a set screw 20, the inner end of which acts on a small piece 21 of copper or other soft metal which engages the threads of the stem without mutilating the same.

Various changes in the details of the device may be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Vhat claim is I 1. In a hand tool the combination of a pair of working levers, a pivot member pivoting said levers together intermediate of their ends, a pair of operating levers having forked forward ends embracing the rear extremities of said working levers and pivoted thereto, a block interposed between said operating levers rearwardly of the pivotal connections of the latter with said working levers, and extending at one side into the forked portion of one lever and at the other side into the forked portion of the other lever, and means for pivoting said operating levers to said block on opposite sides respectively of the longitudinal axis ofthe tool, substantially as described.

2. In a hand tool, the combination of a pair of working levers, a pair of operating levers having forked forward ends pivoted to the rear extremities of the respective working levers, ablock set in between the forward end portions of said operating levers and entering the respective forked por-r tions thereof, means for pivoting said operating levers to saidv block, and a centering device carried by the block and extending between and into engagement withy said working levers; substantially as described.

3. ln a hand tool, the combination of apair of working levers, a pair of operating levers therefor, and a yielding wedge device located between the working levers and actuated by said operating levers; substantially as described.

4l. In a hand tool, the combination of a pair of working levers, a pair of operating levers therefor, a pivotal support for said operating levers, and a centering device for the tool comprising two telescoping parts having a yielding relation to each other, one Y of said parts mounted on said pivotal` support, and the other of said. parts engaging the working levers so as to wedge them apart; substantially as described.

5. In a hand tool, the combination of a. pair of working levers, means for pivoting said levers together intermediate of their ends, a pair of Voperating levers pivoted at their forward ends to the respective rear extremities of the working levers, a block interposed between said operating levers, de

vices for pivoting said loperating levers to` said block on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the tool, and a centering device projecting forwardly from said Yblock into the space between the shanks of said. working levers and having a wedge-like en gagement with said ,working levers at the rear of their pivot; substantially as described.

6. In a hand tool, the combination of a pair of working levers, a pair of operating levers, means for pivoting the forward ends of the operating levers to the respective rear extremities of the working levers7 a block interposed between the operating levers, de-

vices for pivoting ysaid operating levers to said block on opposite sides respectively of the longitudinal axis of the tool, a support projecting rearwardly from said block between said operating levers, and a stop for said operating levers adjustably mounted on said support; substantially as described.

7. In a hand tool, the combination of a`Y pair of levers, working means operated thereby, a block forming a pivotal support for said levers, and a stop adjustably mounted on said block and interposed between said levers; substantially as described.

8. In a hand tool, the combination of a pair of working levers, a pair of operating levers, a block to which the operating levers are pivoted, a centering device projecting from the block on one side and a stop projecting from the block on the opposite side; substantially as described.

9. In a hand tool, the combination of a pair of working levers pivoted together intei-mediate their ends, a pair of operating leyersa block to which the operating levers arefp'ivoted, and a centering device comprising a part secured to and projecting from the block and a second part telescoping with the first and yieldingly held in engagement with said working levers at the rear of their pivot; substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 25th day of May, 1915.

WILLIAM A. BERNARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

